45 Resources to Learn Japanese for Free
Photo by Manuel Cosentino on Unsplash
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Jisho
A dictionary.
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Wanikani
A site for learning Japanese kanji.
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Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese
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日本語の森・Nihongo no mori
Japanese in Japanese (lots of grammar).
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NEWS WEB EASY やさしい日本語で書いたニュース
News in easy Japanese.
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Animelon
Learning Japanese through anime.
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Bunpro
Japanese grammar & vocab
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Tofugu
Blog about Japanese language and culture
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Real Kana: Hiragana Practice
Kana learning.
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Maggie Sensei
A native speaker's blog (in English). Info about the grammar and contexts, including colloquial Japanese.
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JGram
Grammar.
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All Japanese All The Time
Learning Japanese with the AJATT method.
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青空文庫 Aozora Bunko
Japanese e-books.
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Kitani Method Japanese
“Wow! This is like 2 years of study in one hour.”
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Tanoshii Japanese
Learning games and resources.
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Renshuu
Personalized course, online and as an app
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News in Slow Japanese
News in easy Japanese.
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Kanji Damage
A bit different approach to teaching kanji.
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JLPT Resources
JLPT exam resources.
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JLPT Level N5 Resources
N5 exam resources.
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Minato - Japanese E-Learning
Free courses following the same structure as the Marugoto books. Lessons are offered for levels from A1 to early-B1. It's one of the easiest, gradual, and comprehensive introduction into Japanese!
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Marshall's Site
Learn Japanese Step by Step, 3000+ Lessons & 5000+ Questions 100% Free & Ad-Free
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英和辞典・和英辞典
Japanese with sentence examples.
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怪談YouTuberルルナル
Creepypastas read in Japanese.
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三省堂 Web Dictionary
A dictionary (discontinued)
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Yookoso!
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WSJJ
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Visualizing Japanese Grammar
Grammar.
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Nihongo wa kantan desu!
A short Japanese course - 12 lessons.
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NIHONGO eな
A site for Japanese learners.
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MLC Japanese Language School in Tokyo
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Learning Japanese Wiki
A wiki for Japanese learners.
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Learn Japanese Language
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Kanjiclinic
Articles about Kanji.
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jisho
Kanji learning.
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Jim Breen's Japanese Page
A list of apps and links for Japanese learners.
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Japonia
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Japanese Program Materials
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Japanese Links
A list of apps and links for Japanese learners.
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Japanese Audiobooks with Transcripts
Audiobooks in Japanese, with transcription.
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Japanese
Free audio lessons.
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FSI - Japanese
Click the link to download a free course (pdf + audio files).
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Elon - Japanese
Japanese lessons.
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Easy Japanese 2015
Free lessons with audio drama.
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Easy Japanese 2015
Japanese lessons.
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About the Japanese Language
The Japanese language, known as Nihongo, is spoken by approximately 130 million people worldwide. It is the official language of Japan and has significant cultural and historical importance.
Japanese has a unique writing system that combines three different scripts: Kanji (Chinese characters), Hiragana, and Katakana. Kanji characters are ideograms borrowed from Chinese, while Hiragana and Katakana are phonetic scripts used for native Japanese words and foreign loanwords, respectively.
The origins of the Japanese language can be traced back to the Japonic language family, which includes other languages spoken in Japan such as Ryukyuan languages. The Japanese language has been influenced by Chinese, Korean, and other neighboring languages throughout history.
Japanese is not only spoken in Japan but also by Japanese communities around the world. It is taught as a foreign language in many countries due to Japan's economic and cultural influence.
One interesting feature of the Japanese language is its complex system of honorifics and politeness levels. The choice of words and speech patterns depends on the social status and relationship between the speakers, reflecting the importance of hierarchy and respect in Japanese society.
Japanese is known for its rich literature, including famous works like "The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu and haiku poetry by Matsuo Basho. Japanese literature and poetry have had a profound impact on world literature.
Japan is renowned for its technological advancements, anime, manga, and video games, which have contributed to the popularity of learning Japanese among enthusiasts of Japanese culture worldwide.
Learning Japanese opens doors to understanding Japan's fascinating history, engaging with its unique cultural traditions, and building connections with Japanese people both within and outside of Japan.